BIRTH NAME: William Harrison Dempsey
BORN: June 24, 1895, Manassa, CO
DIED: May 31, 1983
BURIAL: Southampton Cemetery, Southampton, New York, NY
Managers: Norman Weaver, Billy Madden, Fred Winsor, Jack “Doc” Kearns
Dempsey was the first world superstar of the boxing ring. The first fighter to attract a $1 million gate when he knocked out Frenchman Georges Carpentier in 1921 and his second battle with Gene Tunney in 1927 drew the first $2 million gate. His championship clash with Luis “Angel” Firpo has been acclaimed as the most thrilling fight of all time - and it was over inside the 2nd Rd. Firpo was floored 7 times in the 1st Rd and still found strength to knock Dempsey our of the ring. The champion was pushed back in the ring just before the bell and went on to knock Firpo out in the 2nd Rd.
